Next phase of roundabout construction will bring new traffic impacts

The next phase in the construction of a roundabout in Camas will begin next week. With it will come new challenges for local commuters.

According to City of Camas Project Manager Jim Hodges, Wednesday, Aug. 17, will mark the beginning of the closure of the north leg of the intersection at Northwest Sixth Avenue and Norwood Street. It is expected to last several weeks.

“This closure will allow for construction of the northerly part of the roundabout to be completed,” he said.

The work will have a significant impact on drivers who live in the neighborhoods surrounding the roundabout. Hodges said the city mailed 500 notices on Tuesday informing residents about the affects of the intersection improvements.

A temporary access directly from Northwest Sixth Place, near Sierra Lane, to the state Route 14 on-ramp will be created.

“The closure at Norwood will also affect your route to downtown Camas, and other areas to the east,” the letter stated. “Depending on the location of your home, [it] will require drivers to use one of several routes to access Northwest Sixth Avenue farther to the east, such as using Northwest Norwood Street and Northwest 10th Avenue.”

Drivers that want to travel east will have to wind their way through the neighborhood and access Northwest Sixth Avenue at Logan, Ivy or Drake streets, Hodges added.

In addition, on Monday and Tuesday, Aug. 15 and 16, the eastbound and westbound SR-14 off ramps at Exit 12 will be closed from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m.

Hodges urges residents to give themselves extra time to get to their destinations, especially during this phase expected to last four to five weeks.

“While we’re doing our best to keep our citizens informed, the next phase will be an unavoidable surprise for some people when it occurs,” he said.